Syed Arshad Hussain

Preparation of polystyrene–clay nanocomposite by solution intercalation technique

Polymer–clay nanocomposites of commercial polystyrene (PS) and clay laponite were prepared via solution intercalation technique. Laponite was modified suitably with the well known cationic surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide by ion-exchange reaction to render laponite miscible with hydrophobic PS. X-ray diffraction analysis in combination with scanning electron microscopy gives an idea of structural and morphological information of PS–laponite nanocomposite for different varying organo-laponite contents. Intercalation of PS chain occurs into the interlayer spacings of laponite for low organo-laponite concentration in the PS–O-laponite mixture. However, aggregation and agglomeration occur at higher clay concentration. The molecular bond vibrational profile of laponite as well as PS–laponite nanocomposite have been explored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis along with differential scanning calorimetry results reveal the enhancement of both thermal stability and glass transition temperature of PS due to the incorporation of clay platelets.

LANGMUIR–BLODGETT FILMS AND MOLECULAR ELECTRONICS

Molecular electronics is a new, exciting and interdisciplinary field of research. The main concern of the subject is to exploit the organic materials in electronic and optoelectronic devices. On the other hand, the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film deposition technique is one of the best among few methods used to manipulate materials at the molecular level. In this article, the LB film preparation technique is discussed briefly with an emphasis on its application towards molecular electronics.

Investigation of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer between Fluorescein and Rhodamine 6G

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer between two organic dyes Fluorescein and Rhodamine 6G was investigated in aqueous solution in presence and absence of synthetic clay laponite. Spectroscopic studies suggest that both the dyes were present mainly as monomer in solution. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer occurred from Fluorescein to Rhodamine 6G in solutions. Energy transfer efficiency increases in presence of laponite and the maximum efficiency was 72.00% in aqueous laponite dispersion. Energy transfer efficiency was found to be pH sensitive. It has been demonstrated that with proper calibration it is possible to use the present system under investigation to sense pH over a wide range from 1.5 to 8.0.

Adsorption kinetics of a fluorescent dye in a long chain fatty acid matrix.

This work reports the adsorption kinetics of a highly fluorescent laser dye rhodamine B (RhB) in a preformed stearic acid (SA) Langmuir monolayer. The reaction kinetics was studied by surface pressure-time (π-t) curve at constant area and in situ fluorescence imaging microscopy (FIM). Increase in surface pressure (at constant area) with time as well as increase in surface coverage of monolayer film at air-water interface provide direct evidence for the interaction. ATR-FTIR spectra also supported the interaction and consequent complexation in the complex films. UV-vis absorption and Fluorescence spectra of the complex Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films confirm the presence of RhB molecules in the complex films transferred onto solid substrates. The outcome of this work clearly shows successful incorporation of RhB molecules into SA matrix without changing the photophysical characteristics of the dye, thus making the dye material as LB compatible.

Control of H-dimer formation of acridine orange using nano clay platelets

Acridine orange (AO) forms dimer even in aqueous solution. In layer-by-layer (LbL) film of AO dimeric sites predominate over monomeric sites. This communication reports the control of H-dimer of AO in LbL film by incorporating nano clay platelets. This was studied by using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopic (AFM) image of the LbL film was taken to confirm the presence of nano clay platelets in the LbL film.

Development of a DNA sensor using a molecular logic gate.

This communication reports the increase in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency between two laser dyes in the presence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Two types of molecular logic gates have been designed where DNA acts as input signal and fluorescence intensity of different bands are taken as output signal. Use of these logic gates as a DNA sensor has been demonstrated.

Adsorption of Cationic Laser Dye onto Polymer/Surfactant Complex Film

Fabrication of complex molecular films of organic materials is one of the most important issues in modern nanoscience and nanotechnology. Soft materials with flexible properties have been given much attention and can be obtained through bottom up processing from functional molecules, where self-assembly based on supramolecular chemistry and designed assembly have become crucial processes and technologies. In this work, we report the successful incorporation of cationic laser dye rhodamine 6G abbreviated as R6G into the pre-assembled polyelectrolyte/surfactant complex film onto quartz substrate by electrostatic adsorption technique. Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) was used as polycation and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) was used as anionic surfactant. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopic characterization reveals the formation of only H-type aggregates of R6G in their aqueous solution and both H- and J-type aggregates in PAH/SDS/R6G complex layer-by-layber films as well as the adsorption kinetics of R6G onto the complex films. The ratio of the absorbance intensity of two aggregated bands in PAH/SDS/R6G complex films is merely independent of the concentration range of the SDS solution used to fabricate PAH/SDS complex self-assembled films. Atomic force microscopy reveals the formation of R6G aggregates in PAH/SDS/R6G complex films.

Layer-by-layer films and colloidal dispersions of graphene oxide nanosheets for efficient control of the fluorescence and aggregation properties of the cationic dye acridine orange.

Chemically derived graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets have received great deal of interest for technological application such as optoelectronic and biosensors. Aqueous dispersions of GO become an efficient template to induce the association of cationic dye namely Acridine Orange (AO). Interactions of AO with colloidal GO was governed by both electrostatic and π-π stacking cooperative interactions. The type of dye aggregations was found to depend on the concentration of GO in the mixed ensemble. Spectroscopic calculations revealed the formation of both H and J-type dimers, but H-type aggregations were predominant. Preparation of layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic self-assembled films of AO and GO onto poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) coated quartz substrate is also reported in this article. UV-Vis absorption, steady state and time resolve fluorescence and Raman spectroscopic techniques have been employed to explore the detail photophysical properties of pure AO, AO/GO mixed solution and AO/GO LbL films. Scanning electron microscopy was also used for visual evidence of the synthesized nanodimensional GO sheets. The fluorescence quenching of AO in the presence of GO in aqueous solution was due to the interfacial photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from photoexcited AO to GO i.e. GO acts as an efficient quenching agent for the fluorescence emission of AO. The quenching is found to be static in nature. Raman spectroscopic results also confirmed the interaction of AO with GO and the electron transfer. The formation of AO/GO complex via very fast excited state electron transfer mechanism may be proposed as to prepare GO-based fluorescence sensor for biomolecular detection without direct labeling the biomolecules by fluorescent probe.

Development of a sensor to study the DNA conformation using molecular logic gates

This communication reports our investigations on the Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between two laser dyes Acriflavine and Rhodamine B in absence and presence of DNA at different pH. It has been observed that energy transfer efficiency is largely affected by the presence of DNA as well as the pH of the system. It is well known that with increase in pH, DNA conformation changes from double stranded to single stranded (denaturation) and finally form random coil. Based on our experimental results two different types of molecular logic gates namely, XOR and OR logic have been demonstrated which can be used to have an idea about DNA conformation in solution.

Adsorption of a cationic water-soluble dye onto cationic Langmuir-Blodgett films via nano clay platelets: An efficient approach to control the H-dimer

ABSTRACT This communication reports the successful adsorption of a water-soluble cationic fluorescent dye Acridine Orange (AO) onto Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films of a cationic amphiphile octadecylamine (ODA) in the presence of nano-clay platelets hectorite. Acridine orange (AO) has been widely used as a stainer for the characterization of biopolymers. But AO has a tendency to form non-florescent H-dimer even in the aqueous solution. Anionic nano-clay platelets hectorite played an important role in controlling the H-dimer formation of AO in the hybrid film. Effects of various parameters in the adsorption process were investigated in detail.